THE NEW ENGLAND QUILT MUSEUM: A DREAM OF QUILTERS
It was almost 30 years ago that a group of enthusiastic New England quilters began to dream of establishing a regional quilt museum. That dream became a reality when the New England Quilt Museum board of directors met for the first time in June 1987. Now, as its 25th Anniversary year has come and gone (in 2012), it seems miraculous that the museum exists and has survived and grown, fulfilling the mission first conceived by its founding mothers.
Over the years, as the museum sought a permanent home, endured water floods and also risked drowning in red ink, there were times when it seemed the dream might die. Still, it has endured, but only because of the support received from you, the museum's constant friends and members.
THE NEW ENGLAND QUILT MUSEUM BUILDING
The museum is located in historic downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. Master craftsman Josiah Peabody built the Lowell Institute for Savings building in 1845 in the classic Greek Revival Style. The structure boasts an unusual rhomboidal footprint, with curved corners and an ornate wrought iron balcony along two sides.
Today the 18,000 square foot space holds exhibition galleries, a library and resource center, classrooms, a museum store, staff offices, support areas and storage for the more than four hundred antique and contemporary quilts in the permanent collection.
Over the years, as the museum sought a permanent home, endured water floods and also risked drowning in red ink, there were times when it seemed the dream might die. Still, it has endured, but only because of the support received from you, the museum's constant friends and members.
THE NEW ENGLAND QUILT MUSEUM BUILDING
The museum is located in historic downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. Master craftsman Josiah Peabody built the Lowell Institute for Savings building in 1845 in the classic Greek Revival Style. The structure boasts an unusual rhomboidal footprint, with curved corners and an ornate wrought iron balcony along two sides.
Today the 18,000 square foot space holds exhibition galleries, a library and resource center, classrooms, a museum store, staff offices, support areas and storage for the more than four hundred antique and contemporary quilts in the permanent collection.
2 SHORT FILMS ABOUT THE MUSEUM
One Serious. The Other... Not So Much.
We recently had a terrific intern at the museum who, along with his other duties, made two short films about the museum.
The one on the left below is a serious look at the history and contributions of the museum.
The other, below right, is a humorous look at what some young or unknowing visitors might experience before and after visiting.
Let's just say this: the expression "crazy quilt ladies" comes up more than once (but it's all in good fun). Enjoy!
Filmmaker Zachary Zolud (19) is double-majoring in Journalism/Professional Writing and Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (Class of 2015). He has 5+ years of experience in Television Production, including scriptwriting, filming and editing. He has a passion for writing and has received university writing awards since his freshman year. Zachary was offered work at the NEQM for his Community Writing II class, a senior-level capstone offered at the University. He accepted and, by the close of the semester, produced two informative videos for the NEQM in hopes of attracting the attention of a younger audience.
The one on the left below is a serious look at the history and contributions of the museum.
The other, below right, is a humorous look at what some young or unknowing visitors might experience before and after visiting.
Let's just say this: the expression "crazy quilt ladies" comes up more than once (but it's all in good fun). Enjoy!
Filmmaker Zachary Zolud (19) is double-majoring in Journalism/Professional Writing and Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (Class of 2015). He has 5+ years of experience in Television Production, including scriptwriting, filming and editing. He has a passion for writing and has received university writing awards since his freshman year. Zachary was offered work at the NEQM for his Community Writing II class, a senior-level capstone offered at the University. He accepted and, by the close of the semester, produced two informative videos for the NEQM in hopes of attracting the attention of a younger audience.
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